Rundown:

In a nutshell, eMotion™ Tech is a versatile, powerful, plug-and-play gesture control system for musical and visual effects processing. Simply place a variety of small wireless sensors (eMotes™) onto your instrument, turn them on, and use open source software to intuitively modulate sound and visuals with your movement in real time. Here’s an example: Put an eMote™ on your guitar and swing the neck up to turn on a distortion pedal and turn on the light show for your solo!

How Does It Work?

We’ll go in depth later on, but to put it in simple terms, when placed on any instrument, our flagship eMote Twist uses 3 sensors to track 9 levels of your instrument’s orientation data in real time, which in turn can modulate a variety of different controls such as light systems or effects in music programs such as Ableton Live. Don’t play an instrument? No problem. Singers and performers can use it to control sounds and lights simply by having an eMote on their person. Think of lifting your arm and controlling the lighting and triggering sound effects like drums.

There are three elements to our system, the eMote™, the Fuse base (the wireless receiver and charging hub for all eMotes™), and the software. The Twist is one of two standalone eMotes™, while the rest of them connect through the Discover7™ gateway, which allows you to connect up to 7 3rd party 2 pin or 3 pin sensors you already have!

The eMote™ Twist is only $125 if you’re a super early bird! But it’s only one of our 10 sensor systems. Read more about those further down.

Who Can Use It?

Musically, we want our system to empower musicians, composers, improvisers, dancers, artists, and hobbyists to lead evolution of live performance. With Kickstarter, you have the unique opportunity to use our system and (no obligation) beta test our system to ensure it is plug-and-play out of the box for any musician, on any instrument, at any skill level. Do you teach music? You can even have a hand in fine-tuning additional settings to better integrate our system into music education programs.

Technically, we want to provide a powerful system and opensource software to hackers. Our system is hackable by design, and we want to see what you can do with it. Because our software is open sourced, you can hack our product’s insane capabilities to make some really awesome creations. How will you use the 9 levels of orientation data that just one of our sensors gives you?

Why use Kickstarter?

We’re here to beta test our patented technology. Funds raised from this campaign will be used to manufacture our hardware and ship it to you, facilitate, and coordinate our Kickstarter beta testing/refinement. However, participating in the Beta program is optional. You are free to just take the tech, put it on your instrument, and jam to your own rhythm, no obligations.

We Need You!

So we invite you to shape the future of music alongside us. Opt into our gamified beta testing program and we will challenge and reward you with additional perks. We want to see the dynamic compositions and performances facilitated by our system, because we are your biggest fans. Rock On!

Introduction

Imagine being able to use the edge of wireless sensor system techonology in your music, choreography, or art without having to understand the complexities of sensors, circuits or other abstract disciplines. With eMotion™, the only thing between your creative vision and reality is simply sticking tiny wireless devices on your instrument and it automatically visually maps the data streams to control any system you can imagine.

eMotion™ aims to provide the first truly out-of-the-box sensing solution for motion control for nearly any task, whether it’s creating an interactive audio/visual installation, an augmented instrument, a responsive environment, video games, or virtually anything that can be interfaced with a computer.

eMotion™ augments the instruments, hardware and software you already use and enjoy!

eMotion™ is not an instrument in of itself. It is a general-purpose sensing system that interfaces with whatever it is attached to in order to provide a new means of control using your natural (or unnatural) performance gestures.

eMotion™ works out-of-the-box with any software or hardware that receives MIDI or OSC (OpenSoundControl) data including: Ableton Live, MaxMSP, KYMA, REASON, Protools, Logic, Csound, Supercollider, and more. There is also a special module that enables eMotion™ to communicate to DMX enabled lighting. Using analog synthesizers? Simply employ a MIDI-to-CV converter and you can use eMotion to control your rig!

eMotion’s open-source software client is being made available as a standalone application compatible with Mac and PC. It's currently designed native in MaxMSP, so Max users have access to a wide variety of specialized eMotion™ objects and can develop their own eMotion™ extensions in that environment using our MaxMSP source files.

The Hardware

eMotion™ is a System

eMotes™

Attach a variety of eMotes™ onto your instrument to make your instrument sensitive to: orientation, pressure, proximity, temperature, humidity, light, etc. Each eMote™ type senses different things. The
user is free to use multiple eMotes™ of same or different types in any combination to meet
the creative needs of individual projects, demands and aesthetics.

Freely place these on any desired
sensing area, rearrange and remove them in real time. No need to re-wire or
re-program.

Revert back to your original
instrument by simply removing the eMotes™. Nonadhesive solutions for removably attaching eMotes™ to surfaces are currently being developed.

eMotes™ were specifically engineered to
preserve your full range of performance motion and to be as non-visible, small
and lightweight as technically possible. This means you get to concentrate on
doing what you do best – performing. No being tethered by cables and wires, no
tangles, no unplugging, no short circuiting.

eMotion Fuse Base Station™

The Fuse Base Station™

The eMotion Fuse™ Base Station plugs into your computer via USB and receives all eMote™ wireless data. It also serves as a charging
station and can dock up to six eMotes™ and still receive wireless transmissions
while charging. You may use many Fuses in a single environment and pair
individual eMotes™ with a
specific Fuse, or have eMotes™
transmit to multiple Fuses.

eMote Twist™

eMote Twist™

The eMote Twist™ is our flagship sensor that communicates directly with the eMotion Fuse Base Station™. Its comprised of a 3-axis accelerometer, a 3 axis gyroscope, and a 3-axis magnetometer. These combine to give you an unprecedented 9 axes of real time orientation data in one small device.

Discover7 Gateway Sensor™

The Discover7™ is eMotion's gateway interface module. It communicates wirelessly to the Fuse Base Station™ and can integrate up to seven Discover eMotes™ or your third party 3.3V or 5V, 2 or 3 pin sensors.

Risks and challenges

As a system that consists of both hardware and software there is a fair amount of risk that backers might want to consider. We've done our best to mitigate these risks.

We are a startup company that has a commercial prototype system with a patent pending. We're currently based out of the Florida Innovation Hub Incubator in Gainesville, FL. We have some amazing advisors including Dr. James Paul Sain, President of the Society of Composers Inc, Josh Greenberg, CTO and Co-Founder of Grooveshark, and John Spence, one of America's top 100 Business Thought Leaders. We also have literally dozens of brilliant mentors from all over the world working to ensure our success.

Our first production run of 25 beta assemblies are being tested and refined in tandem with our Kickstarter campaign and we will post continued updates to share our progress over the course of this endeavor. We have 25 of the brightest minds in music and technology across the US beta testing with us to ensure that our Kickstarter backers have the most capable system possible for the next phase of beta testing.

In our video we used our commercial prototype system to demonstrate the pre-beta functionality of our system. Even in its current pre-beta state Nate and Gabe were able to utilize the system extremely easily for the performances in the video. Let's just say Dr. Udell, our CTO and inventor, is a wizard.

We are still developing our final enclosures for the Kickstarter assemblies and are gathering feedback from our current beta to optimize them for you. Our Kickstarter video includes footage of fully functioning exposed sensors as well as a 3d printed enclosure prototype. Rest assured we're continually working to make our system even more durable and versatile.

With our manufacturing and fulfillment we have left a 4 month window for anticipated manufacture and delivery in order to account for any unforeseeable circumstances. We're using domestic manufacturing partners to produce our Kickstarter assemblies to offset the risks and lead times of off-shored alternatives.

This campaign will ultimately shape the future of our system, so to offset any risks you face as an early adopter we are letting Kickstarter campaign backers trade in their systems for newer versions when we commercially launch our products.

This isn't our first rodeo and we strive to continuously improve! Know that we grind hard and will do our best to meet these deadlines. We'll be open and transparent the whole journey. We look forward to making some amazing things happen together!

We currently offer 10 emotes. The only standalone is the eMote Twist™. 8 of them connect through the Discover7 module. Some of the coolest sensors include the:
• Exert™ - A force sensitive resistor that measures amount of pressure applied
• Shock™ - A piezo-electric shock sensor that can transform any surface into tap/vibration sensor
• Flash™ - A photo-sensitive sensor

Pledge $25 or more

2 backers

eMotion Technologies Smart Instrument Control Software™ download - This gift level gives you the ability to reserve your username on the software in addition to earning a special badge indicating you were one of our first supporters. DISCLAIMER - A hardware package including a Fuse Base Hub is required to to integrate any hardware into eMotion's system. This level allows you to reserve your username and track the development of the software and contribute to the user forums. Have your voice heard. This gift level also includes a pair of eMotion Technologies stickers.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

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Hobbyist/DIY Gateway Pack - Super Early Bird Special - This gift level is for you pioneers out there that already have your own 3.3V or 5V, two or three pin plug sensors. It includes our Discover7 Gateway Sensor™, with 7 analog plug ports. Includes Fuse Base Station™ and download of the eMotion Smart Instrument Control Software™. This gift level also includes a pair of eMotion Technologies™ stickers.

DISCLAIMER - This gift level does not have any function on its own but allows you to integrate your existing 3.3V and 5V sensors into our system. This package is anticipated to retail for $310.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

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Starter Pack - Super Early Bird Special - Test out our flagship sensor the eMote Twist™. Includes Fuse Base Station™ and download of the eMotion Smart Instrument Control Software™. This gift level also includes a pair of eMotion Technologies™ stickers. This package is anticipated to retail for $350.

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Hobbyist/DIY Gateway Pack - Early Bird Special - This gift level is for you pioneers out there that already have your own 3.3V or 5V, two or three pin plug sensors. It includes our Discover7 Gateway Sensor™, with 7 analog plug ports. Includes Fuse Base Station™ and download of the eMotion Smart Instrument Control Software™. This gift level also includes a pair of eMotion Technologies™ stickers.

DISCLAIMER - This gift level does not have any function on its own but allows you to integrate your existing 3.3V and 5V sensors into our system. This package is anticipated to retail for $310.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

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Pledge $150 or more

0 backers
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Hobbyist/DIY Gateway Pack - This gift level is for you pioneers out there that already have your own 3.3V or 5V, two or three pin plug sensors. It includes our Discover7 Gateway Sensor™, with 7 analog plug ports. Includes Fuse Base Station™ and download of the eMotion Smart Instrument Control Software™. This gift level also includes a pair of eMotion Technologies™ stickers.

DISCLAIMER - This gift level does not have any function on its own but allows you to integrate your existing 3.3V and 5V sensors into our system. This package is anticipated to retail for $310.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

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Pledge $160 or more

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Starter Pack - Early Bird Special - Test out our flagship sensor the eMote Twist™. Includes Fuse Base Station™ and download of the eMotion Smart Instrument Control Software™. This gift level also includes a pair of eMotion Technologies™ stickers. This package is anticipated to retail for $350.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

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Starter Pack - Test out our flagship sensor the eMote Twist™. Includes Fuse Base Station™ and download of the eMotion Smart Instrument Control Software™. This gift level also includes a pair of eMotion Technologies™ stickers. This package is anticipated to retail for $350.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

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Pledge $295 or more

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Performance Package - Super Early Bird Special - Test out a personalized system of eMotion™ hardware, that includes a Fuse Base Station™, one eMote Twist™, one Discover7 Gateway Sensor™, and your choice of an additional three eMotes™. Choose from any of the 10 different eMotes™ we are making available for this campaign, read more about them all in our campaign body. Additional eMote Twists™ and Discover7 Gateway Sensors™ count as 2 choices each. Includes download of the eMotion Smart Instrument Control Software™. This gift level also includes a pair of eMotion Technologies stickers. This package is anticipated to retail for $755.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

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Pledge $345 or more

0 backers
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Performance Package - Early Bird Special - Test out a personalized system of eMotion™ hardware, that includes a Fuse Base Station™, one eMote Twist™, one Discover7 Gateway Sensor™, and your choice of an additional three eMotes™. Choose from any of the 10 different eMotes™ we are making available for this campaign, read more about them all in our campaign body. Additional eMote Twists™ and Discover7 Gateway Sensors™ count as 2 choices each. Includes download of the eMotion Smart Instrument Control Software™. This gift level also includes a pair of eMotion Technologies stickers. This package is anticipated to retail for $755.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

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Pledge $395 or more

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Performance Package - Test out a personalized system of eMotion™ hardware, that includes a Fuse Base Station™, one eMote Twist™, one Discover7 Gateway Sensor™, and your choice of an additional three eMotes™. Choose from any of the 10 different eMotes™ we are making available for this campaign, read more about them all in our campaign body. Additional eMote Twists™ and Discover7 Gateway Sensors™ count as 2 choices each. Includes download of the eMotion Smart Instrument Control Software™. This gift level also includes a pair of eMotion Technologies stickers. This package is anticipated to retail for $755.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

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Rockstar Package - Super Early Bird Special - Test out a custom system of eMotion™ hardware, that includes a Fuse Base Station™, one eMote Twist™, two Discover7 Gateway Sensors™, and your choice of an additional seven eMotes™. Additional eMote Twists™ and Discover7 Gateway Sensors™ count as 2 choices each. Includes download of the eMotion Smart Instrument Control Software™. This gift level also includes a pair of eMotion Technologies™ stickers. This package is anticipated to retail for $1250.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

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Pledge $595 or more

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Rockstar Package - Early Bird Special - Test out a custom system of eMotion™ hardware, that includes a Fuse Base Station™, one eMote Twist™, two Discover7 Gateway Sensors™, and your choice of an additional seven eMotes™. Additional eMote Twists™ and Discover7 Gateway Sensors™ count as 2 choices each. Includes download of the eMotion Smart Instrument Control Software™. This gift level also includes a pair of eMotion Technologies™ stickers. This package is anticipated to retail for $1250.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

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Pledge $695 or more

0 backers
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Rockstar Package - Test out a custom system of eMotion™ hardware, that includes a Fuse Base Station™, one eMote Twist™, two Discover7 Gateway Sensors™, and your choice of an additional seven eMotes™. Additional eMote Twists™ and Discover7 Gateway Sensors™ count as 2 choices each. Includes download of the eMotion Smart Instrument Control Software™. This gift level also includes a pair of eMotion Technologies™ stickers. This package is anticipated to retail for $1250.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

Funding period

Apr 22, 2013 - May 22, 2013
(30 days)

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